Collapsible head shield and mounting means therefor



R. c. ERBB 3,315,275

COLLAPSIBLE HEAD SHIELD AND MOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR A ril 25, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 23, 1965 INVENTOR. Fun 6. 5x55 R. C. ERBB April 25, 1967 COLLAPSIBLE HEAD SHIELD AND MOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 23, 1965 INVENTGR.

United States Patent Ofilice 3,315,275 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 3,315,275 COLLAPSIBLE HEAD SHIELD AND MOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR Ruth C. Erbh, 2 Sutton Place 5., New York, N.Y. 10022 Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,258 7 Claims. (Ci. 2-177) This invention relates to collapsible head shields and mounting means therefor particularly as adapted for feminine use. More particularly the invention relates to head shields in which cover means and head enveloping mounting means are secured as a unitary assemblage to a collapsible umbrella-like frame in a manner to assure comfortable and attractive fit to the head of the wearer.

The broad idea of utilizing an umbrella-like frame or radial stiffening means in headgear intended as sun and rain shields is very old in the art, but for some reason such headgear have not in the past gained any extensive use. This may be due to the fact that those based on umbrella-like structures have generally involved supplemental hardware making them unsightly and/or uncomfortable, and those with untensioned radial ribs have been so shapeless as to be unattractive.

An object of the present invention is to provide in a collapsible, feminine headgear the neatness imparted by an umbrella-like frame, and head enveloping means which will firmly and properly position the same on the head of a wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved headgear of the character described in which the proper and firm fit is achieved by a novel preassemblage of cover and head enveloping parts adapting the same to be readily mounted as a unit on an umbrella-like frame.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description together with the accompanying drawing in which a preferred adaptation of the invention has been illustrated, with the various parts identified by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view showing the head shield in use.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the head shield extended as seen from the under side.

FIG. 3 is a view substantially on the line 33 of FIG. 2 with the head enveloping portion hanging free.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 3 indicating a slight modification, and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the head shield in the collapsed position.

As shown in the drawing, the new collapsible head shield comprises an umbrella-like frame of generally conventional construction embodying a plurality of ribs 11 hinged at their inner ends 12 to a ring member 13 which is anchored to a short stem part 14. Centrally of each rib 11 is a hinge mounting 15 for a radial brace member 16, and the several brace members are hingedly joined at 17 to a central ferrule 18 having a central passage 19 adapted to freely slide over the stem part 14. The braces 16 are of a length to extend the ribs 11 to the desired angle as shown in FIG. 3 when they reach the dotted position 20a and to lock the ribs in this extended position when pushed to the stern engaging full-line position 2011, which as will be noted, is above the plane of the hinge mountings 15.

A distinguishing feature of the frame 10 is the short stem 14, the lower end 14a of which terminates substantially flush with the bottom of the ferrule 18 when in the locked, full-line position as shown in FIG. 3. The fact that there is no protrusion of the stem below the ferrule 18 is important from the standpoint of comfort as hereinafter described.

Mounted on the frame 10 is a preassembled cover and head enveloping unit 21, the outermost component of which is a conventional umbrella-like cover 22 made up of a plurality of sectors 23 equal in number to the number of ribs 11 and stitched together in radial lines which will overlie the ribs 11. It will be noted that while eight ribs 11 and sectors 23 have been shown in the drawing this number can be any number from about 6 to 16 for creating varied appearance and decorative effect.

At the outer end of the juncture of each pair of sectors 23 there is secured a conventional socket member 24, adapted to receive the end of a rib 11 as the cover is assembled to the frame. The cover 22 can be fashioned from various types of close-woven fabrics, plastics, or other flexible sheet materials and may be made waterproof if necessary by conventional treatment.

When the several sectors have been joined, the cover '22, a head enveloping or scarf member 25 and a circular liner or reinforcing member 26 are stitched together by a circular line of stitching 27 adjacent the edge of said liner, which, it will be noted, is of a size to extend radially slightly beyond the hinge mountings 15. The scarf member 25 is an elongated strip of lightweight ornamental material or netting which may be hemmed or bound along its edges as indicated at 28, and which is somewhat wider than the diameter of the circular liner 26. With the center portion 25a of the scarf following the contour of the liner 26 through the space of approximately one sector 23 of the cover 22 as shown in FIG. 2 and permitting the scarf ends 25b to project from the edges of the sector 23 approximately tangentially with respect to the liner 26 it will be apparent that the scarf ends are out of common alinement by approximately 45. This creates an excess of scarf material at the opposed long edge, and this is cut out and the cut edges joined or stitched together as seen at 250.

With the cover 22 fashioned from close-woven fabric or other material of substantial body, and the liner 26 fashioned from a suitable close-woven fabric, it will be apparent that the line of stitching 27 serves to positively position the scarf 25, oriented in the manner above described, between the cover and liner. A second circular line of stitching 29 adjacent the center of the assemblage further aids in the unitary support of the cover, scarf and liner, and if desired other concentric lines of stitching may be employed between the stitching 27 and 29. The assemblage, at the geometric center of the cover, is of course provided with an aperture to receive the frame stem 14, and when the assemblage is in position on the frame the protruding stem and adjacent edges of the assemblage are suitably covered and concealed by a flanged cup 30 which may be secured to the stem 14 by a suitable pin or fastener 31.

Edges of the liner 26 can simply be stitched to the ribs 11 at points adjacent and outwardly of the hinge mountings 15 as indicated 32 in FIGS. 2 and 3 to firmly position the scarf 25 with respect to the frame. Alternatively, the edges of the liner 26 can be provided with small grommets 33 as seen in FIG. 4 through which the ribs 11 can pass for similarly positioning the scarf 25.

At one edge of the sector 23 which is in alignment with the stitched portion 250 of the scarf, and hence at the rear of the device when in use, a strap 34 is secured adjacent the socket member 24 with its free end loop 35 detachably coupled with the rib 11 by a suitable clip 36. The strap 34 is provided with two snap fasteners 37 spaced to permit engagement circumferentially of the collapsed device as seen in FIG. 5. In this Way the scarf can be readily stored and concealed within the folded device and the end loop 35 provides a practical means for hanging or carrying the device.

The unique fit of the device to the feminine head is provided by the structure and manner of mounting of the scarf 25. In FIG. 2 it will be seen that the hemmed or bound edge 28 of the scarf is above the front four ribs 11, i.e. those bounding the arcuate portion 25a and the next adjacent ribs 11'. This provides a sufiicient face opening to accommodate most hair stylings without objectionable pressure or crushing action. Secondly, the rear, joined and stitched portion 250 of the scarf together with the upwardly domed contour of the radial brace members in the locked position b, sufficiently envelops the head so that the head shield is firmly supported in various desired positions of adjustment when the scarf ends b are secured together under the chin of the wearer, or used to encircle the neck as shown in FIG. 1.

The nature of the scarf material can of course be varied without modifying its basic structure or mode of operation. Thus for summer use an open or lacy scarf would be preferable for coolness, whereas for winter use a knitted or other suitably warmer scarf might be preferable, and when the device is intended purely as a rain shield, the scarf 25 could even be fashioned from plastic or waterproofed fabrics. Heavier scarf material would of course create greater bulk for storage. In this connection, however, the inherent flexibility of the ribs 11 can accommodate a considerable bulk of stored material and still permit collapsing to substantially the shape and appearance shown in FIG. 5.

Various changes and modifications in the head shield herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the art, and to the extent that such changes and modifications are embraced by the appended claims, they are understood to constitute part of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A collapsible head shield comprising an umbrellalike frame having a short stem and a ring member anchored thereto centrally of said umbrella-like frame, six to sixteen radial ribs hingedly secured to said ring and extending outwardly therefrom, hinge mountings centrally of said radial ribs, a plurality of radial brace members hingedly secured to said hinge mountings at one of their ends, an elongated central ferrule in alignment with said stem hingedly securing the other ends of said radial brace members, said elongated central ferrule adapted for slidable engagement and disengagement with respect to said stem, said stem being completely concealed and said brace members being inclined above the plane of said hinge mountings in the fully engaged position of said ferrule, and a unitary assemblage secured to said frame, said assemblage consisting of an umbrella-like cover of flexible sheet material, an essentially circular liner of a diameter to extendslightly beyond said hinge mountings, and an elongated flexible scarf member disposed between said cover and liner, end portions of said scarf in extended position being angularly disposed with the center, front forming portion of one long edge following the contour of said liner through an arc of about 45 wherein said end portions diverge outwardly and rearwardly from the center of said head shield, and a portion of said scarf at the opposed long edge being shortened and joined along a radial, rearwardly extending line for a distance substantially beyond the periphery of said liner, said cover, liner and scarf being joined together with circular stitching, at least one circular line of which coincides substantially with the location of said hinge mountings, and positioning means adjacent and outwardly of said hinge mountings for securing said assemblage to said ribs.

2. A collapsible head shield as defined in claim 1, wherein said positioning means comprises tack stitching through said liner in the vicinity of and encircling each rib.

3. A collapsible head shield as defined in claim 1, wherein said positioning means comprises a plurality of grommets at the peripheral edge portion of said liner, said grommets being spaced to coincide with the spacing of and adapted to slidably engage said ribs.

4. A collapsible head shield as defined in claim 1, wherein the front center portion of said scarf traverses the space between at least two ribs and the scarf edge is disposed above said ribs.

5. A collapsible head shield as defined in claim 1,.

' wherein said frame has eight ribs, the front center portion of said scarf traverses the space between two ribs, and the scarf edge is disposed above said ribs and the two adjacent ribs, thereby providing a hair accommodating face opening at the front portion of said assemblage.

6. A collapsible head shield as defined in claim 1, wherein the cover portion of said assemblage has an elongated strap secured at one end to the periphery of said cover adjacent a rearwardly extending rib, means detachably securing the other end of said strap to said rib adjacent the hinge mounting thereon, and said strap having fastener means for joining the same in rib-end enveloping position when said head shield is collapsed with the scarf concealed within the folds of said cover.

7. A collapsible head shield as defined in claim 6, wherein said strap is of a length to extend beyond said fastener means, and said extended portion provides a looped suspending means for the collapsed device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,140,647 12/1938 Myers 2--l77 2,684,483 7/1954 Kwake 2-l77 3,049,720 8/1962 Caine 2177 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE HEAD SHIELD COMPRISING AN UMBRELLALIKE FRAME HAVING A SHORT STEM AND A RING MEMBER ANCHORED THERETO CENTRALLY OF SAID UMBRELLA-LIKE FRAME, SIX TO SIXTEEN RADIAL RIBS HINGEDLY SECURED TO SAID RING AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, HINGE MOUNTINGS CENTRALLY OF SAID RADIAL RIBS, A PLURALITY OF RADIAL BRACE MEMBERS HINGEDLY SECURED TO SAID HINGE MOUNTINGS AT ONE OF THEIR ENDS, AN ELONGATED CENTRAL FERRULE IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID STEM HINGEDLY SECURING THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID RADIAL BRACE MEMBERS, SAID ELONGATED CENTRAL FERRULE ADAPTED FOR SLIDABLE ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID STEM, SAID STEM BEING COMPLETELY CONCEALED AND SAID BRACE MEMBERS BEING INCLINED ABOVE THE PLANE OF SAID HINGE MOUNTINGS IN THE FULLY ENGAGED POSITION OF SAID FERRULE, AND A UNITARY ASSEMBLAGE SECURED TO SAID FRAME, SAID ASSEMBLAGE CONSISTING OF AN UMBRELLA-LIKE COVER OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL, AN ESSENTIALLY CIRCULAR LINER OF A DIAMETER TO EXTEND SLIGHTLY BEYOND SAID HINGE MOUNTINGS, AND AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE SCARF MEMBER DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID COVER AND LINER, END PORTIONS OF SAID SCRAF IN EXTENDED POSITION BEING ANGULARLY DISPOSED WITH THE CENTER, FRONT FORMING PORTION OF ONE LONG EDGE FOLLOWING THE CONTOUR OF SAID LINER THROUGH AN ARC OF ABOUT 45* WHEREIN SAID END PORTIONS DIVERGE OUTWARDLY AND REARWARDLY FROM THE CENTER OF SAID HEAD SHIELD, AND A PORTION OF SAID SCARF AT THE OPPOSED LONG EDGE BEING SHORTENED AND JOINED ALONG A RADIAL, REARWARDLY EXTENDING LINE FOR A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY BEYOND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID LINER, SAID COVER, LINER AND SCARF BEING JOINED TOGETHER WITH CIRCULAR STITCHING, AT LEAST ONE CIRCULAR LINE OF WHICH COINCIDES SUBSTANTIALLY WITH THE LOCATION OF SAID HINGE MOUNTINGS, AND POSITIONING MEANS ADJACENT AND OUTWARDLY OF SAID HINGE MOUNTINGS FOR SECURING SAID ASSEMBLAGE TO SAID RIBS. 